Patent Application
20210262135
The embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for shrinking a fabric, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying.
Garment producers and other manufactures are continuously trying to lower acceptable standards of shrinkage in 100% cotton and cotton/synthetic blended fabrics and apparel. Typically, a finished fabric standard of not more than −5% length×−5% width is allowable, and further typically, finished garment shrinkage standards usually are not more the −8% length×−8% width.
These results can be obtained with proper knitting and finishing processes. Now, the standards for garments and apparel are being lowered to −3% to −4% length shrinkage×−3% to −4% width shrinkage by several major U.S. producers.
Fabric producers are unable to obtain the finished fabric shrinkage results to meet these standards without chemical fixation, through the use of resins. Many resins are, however, objectionable from a cost stand point, as well as health concerns because certain resins have been shown to produce cancer. Further, mechanical compaction of the fabric reduces the lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric without chemicals, but the new standards cannot be met by the prior art.
Numerous innovations for compressively treating fabrics have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art and which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach an apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,145—issued to Cohn et al. on Jan. 2, 1962 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.6—teaches a method of compressively treating fibrous well material, which includes the steps of feeding the material in a positive manner and at a first predetermined uniform speed substantially to an entry line of a treating zone by closely confining both principle surfaces of the material to a predetermined path during the feeding, discontinuing the positive feeding and the close confining substantially at the entry line, retarding the material to a second predetermined uniform speed at an exit line of the treating zone, whereby the material is caused to decelerate and decreases in length and thereby increases in thickness in passage through the zone, and subjecting the material to heat and substantial localized pressure at the exit line of the treating zone. The increased thickness of the material is substantially greater than that of the predetermined path, whereby decelerating portions of the fabric are confined substantially to the treating zone. The predetermined path is of a length several times larger than the length of the treating zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,627—issued to Milligan on Jan. 7, 1986 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.5—teaches a process for finish drying of tubular knitted fabrics from a wet condition to a substantially finished form in a single process. Wet treated and mechanically extracted fabric is significantly overspread laterally as it enters the upstream end of the dryer, and although already wet, the fabric is steamed. Thereafter, and throughout most of its travel through the dryer system, the fabric is handled to avoid stitch tension to the greatest possible extent, while the wet fabric is assuming geometric stability. The discharged fabric is virtually finished and ready for the cutting table. Mechanical roller compacting of fabrics in a wet condition enables the wet-compacted fabric to be dried to a substantially finished condition without significant loss of its compacting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,819—issued to Milligan et al. on Nov. 28, 1989 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.6—teaches a method for compressive lengthwise shrinking of tubular knitted fabrics and other materials, particularly, in a single stage. Feeding and retarding rollers are separated from each other by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. Zone-forming blades are projected between the rollers from opposite sides and form therebetween a confinement zone that extends at a large angle from the feeding roller to the retarding roller. Fabric is guided to the one under low contact pressure by the feeding roller and is conveyed away from the zone under similarly low contact pressure by the retarding roller. At the entrance to the zone, the fabric is decelerated and compacted lengthwise without burnishing or abrasion and without crimping. Tubular and open width knitted fabrics can be compressively pre-shrink in large amounts up to 25% and more in a single stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,329—issued to Milligan et al. on May 21, 1991 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.5—teaches an apparatus for compressive lengthwise shrinking of tubular knitted fabrics and other materials, particularly, in a single stage. Feeding and retarding rollers are separated from each other by a distance significantly greater than the thickness of the fabric. Zone-forming blades are projected between the rollers from opposite sides and form therebetween a confinement zone that extends at a large angle from the feeding roller to the retarding roller. Fabric is guided to the zone under low contact pressure by the feeding roller and is conveyed away from the zone under similarly low contact pressure by the retarding roller. At the entrance to the zone, the fabric is decelerated and compacted lengthwise without burnishing or abrasion and without crimping. Tubular and open width knitted fabrics can be compressively pre-shrunk in large amounts up to 25% and more in a single stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,483—issued to Allison et al. on Apr. 11, 2000 in U.S. class 34 and subclass 128—teaches a heating system for a mechanical compressive shrinkage apparatus in which a continuously flowing liquid heat-exchange medium is caused to flow in series through each of the components required to be heated. Heat is inputted to the flowing medium in accordance with the temperature of one of the components to be heated, preferably, the first in the series. Uniformity and constancy of both absolute and relative temperatures of the series-connected components is achieved. A mixture of water and propylene glycol alcohol is the heat-exchange medium that allows operation at lower pressure without the maintenance problems of a system using, for example, oil as the exchange medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,461 B1—issued to Catallo on Jan. 27, 2004 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.6—teaches a method and apparatus for shrink-proofing a fabric, typically, a knitted textile composed of interlocked loops of yarn made of at mast one of natural and man-made fibers. The loops interlock along stitch rows that may become skewed. The fabric is confined from expanding as it is delivered to, and discharged from, an in-line compression zone free of obstructions, such as, one of crimps, bends, and kinks. The fabric is confined, preferably, resiliently coming to, passing through, and leaving, the compression zone so as to accommodate variations of thickness and irregularities of the fabric being compacted in the compression zone. The interlocked loops are organized, whereby they are allowed to move toward each other orthogonally along their related stitch row so as to reduce volume of the fabric. Non-woven textiles, papers, papers with additives, and the like are shrink-proofed in the same manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,122 B2—issued to West et al. on Nov. 26, 2013 in U.S. class 26 and subclass 18.6—teaches a two-stage process and apparatus for compacting tubular knitted fabrics. At each stage, the fabric is acted upon by cooperating feeding and retarding rollers that are spaced-apart a distance greater than the thickness of the fabric. Thus, opposite fabric sides cannot be in simultaneous contact with the feeding and retarding rollers at the same point along the fabric. Fabric is transferred from the feeding roller to the retarding roller, while opposite sides of the fabric are closely confined in a compacting zone, free of contact with either roller. Fabric is longitudinally compacted during its traverse of that zone. In the second stage, the rollers are reversely oriented with respect to the fabric. Not more than 60% of the compacting effort is imparted in either one of the stages. Preferably, each stage imparts about 50% of the compacting effort.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for compressively treating fabrics have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a method and apparatus for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying.
Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Passing a knit fabric in tubular or open form through mechanical compression or a compacting station in the “wet” state prior to drying, in order to provide lengthwise compression of the fabric, increases the stitches or courses per inch and re-orients the knit construction to reduce residual shrinkage in the finished fabric and garments.
The definition of “wet” is the amount of residual moisture present in the fabric prior to processing, which can range from 30-300%. The residual moisture includes water or any mixture of water and process chemicals.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying. The apparatus includes, among other components, a balloon extractor station and a hydro-sizer compression station. The balloon extractor station removes some water from the wet fabric. The hydro-sizer compression station is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the balloon extractor station, and compresses the wet fabric in a lengthwise direction, and in doing so, pre-shrinks the wet fabric prior to drying. The method includes, among other steps, extracting some water from the wet fabric so as to form a hydro-extracted and wet fabric, compressing lengthwise the hydro-extracted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and wet fabric that is now pre-shrunk prior to drying, and drying the compacted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and dry fabric.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
The overall configuration of the apparatus 10 for pre-shrinking the wet fabric 12 prior to drying can best be seen in
The apparatus 10 comprises a balloon extractor station 14 and a hydro-sizer compression station 16. The balloon extractor station 14 is for removing some water 18 from the wet fabric 12. The hydro-sizer compression station 16 is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the balloon extractor station 14, and is for compressing the wet fabric 12 in a lengthwise direction, and in doing so, pre-shrinks the wet fabric 12 prior to drying.
The apparatus 10 further comprises an entry system station 20, a knit washer station 22, a twin balloon pad station 24, and a folding station 26.
The balloon extractor station 14 is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the entry system station 20.
The knit washer station 22 is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the balloon extractor station 14.
The twin balloon pad station 24 is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the knit washer station 22, and is for padding on chemical softeners 28 or chemical lubricants 30 and for removing excess water 18 and excess of the chemical softeners 28 or the chemical lubricants 30 from the wet fabric 12.
The chemical softeners 28 or the chemical lubricants 30 include non-ionic 31, cationic 31a, polyethylene 31b, silicone 31c, or soil and stain release agents 31d.
The hydro-sizer compression station 16 is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the twin balloon pad station 24.
The specific configuration of the entry system station 20 can best be seen in
The entry system station 20 includes a 48″ hydraulic turntable 32 and a twist sensor 34.
The entry system station 20 further includes a driven cloth lifter 36. The driven cloth lifter 36 of the entry system station 20 and the twist sensor 34 of the entry system station 20 are for automatic de-twisting.
The entry system station 20 further includes a motorized pot-eye de-twister 38 and “O” ring guiders 40. The “O” ring guiders 40 of the entry system station 20 have a powered width control 42 and hole detectors 44.
The specific configuration of the balloon extractor station 14 can best be seen in
The balloon extractor station 14 includes a driven feed roll 46. The driven feed roll 46 of the balloon extractor station 14 is for drawing the wet fabric 12 through ring guides 48 of the balloon extractor station 14 and into a pre-wet extracting scary 50 of the balloon extractor station 14.
The balloon extractor station 14 further includes an extracting scray 52. The extracting scray 52 of the balloon extractor station 14 is for automatic speed control and air for ballooning the wet fabric 12, and has an idler/dancer assembly 54.
The balloon extractor station 14 further includes a pair of extracting squeeze rolls 56.
Each extracting squeeze roll 56 of the balloon extractor station 14 is made from a metal 58 or a metal core 60 covered in a polyurethane 62, rubber 64, or other synthetic compounds 66, and has a 7″ (17.78 cm) diameter and a 38″ (96.52 cm) face.
The specific configuration of the knit washer station 22 can best be seen in
The knit washer station 22 includes a continuous washing chamber 68.
The continuous washing chamber 68 of the knit washer station 22 is made from stainless steel, and has eight individual compartments 70.
The eight individual compartments 70 of the continuous washing chamber 68 of the knit washer station 22 include eight immersion rolls 72, eight carrier rolls 74, four nip roll assemblies 76, two directional rolls 78, displacement baffles 80, air injection assemblies 82, compartment drains 84, and overflow drains 86.
The four nip roll assemblies 76 of the eight individual compartments 70 of the continuous washing chamber 68 of the knit washer station 22 have pneumatic loading 88.
The knit washer station 22 further includes a PH system 90.
The PH system 90 of the knit washer station 22 has an acid circulation pump 92, an electronic metering pump 94, integral piping 96, and a PH probe 98.
The PH probe 98 of the PH system 90 of the knit washer station 22 has a transmitter 100.
The knit washer station 22 further includes a soap dispensing system 102.
The soap dispensing system 102 of the knit washer station 22 has an electronic mearing pump 104 and integral piping 106.
The knit washer station 22 further includes a water heating system 108.
The water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 has a heat exchanger 110.
The heat exchanger 110 of the water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 is for providing 25 gallons (95 liters) per minute capacity at 160° F. (70° C.).
The water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 further has a steam control valve 112.
The steam control valve 112 of the water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 is 1½″ and has an RTD 114. The RTD 114 of the steam control valve 112 of the water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 is for water temperature measurement in the continuous washing chamber 68 of the knit washer station 22.
The water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 further has a temperature controller 116, and piping 118 and fittings 120 to connect the steam control value 112 of the water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 to the continuous washing chamber 68 of the knit washer station 22 with a maximum length of 10′ (3 meters).
The temperature controller 116 of the water heating system 108 of the knit washer station 22 has a control valve transducer 122.
The specific configuration of the twin balloon pad station 24 can best be seen in
The twin balloon pad station 24 includes an extracting scray 124. The extracting scray 124 of the twin balloon pad station 24 is for automatic speed control and air for ballooning the wet fabric 12.
The extracting scray 124 of the twin balloon pad station 24 has an idler/dancer assembly 126.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes a pair of extracting squeeze rolls 128. Each extracting squeeze roll 128 of the twin balloon pad station 24 has a 7″ (17.78 cm) diameter and a 38″ (96.52 cm) face.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes a chemical application pan 130.
The chemical application pan 130 of the twin balloon pad station 24 is made from stainless steel, and has air for ballooning the wet fabric 12.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes a processing scray 132. The pressing scray 132 of the twin balloon pad station 24 is for automatic speed control, and has an idler/dance assembly 134.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes a pair of padding rolls 136. Each padding roll 136 of the twin balloon pad station 24 has a 7″ (17.78 cm) diameter and a 38″ (96.52 cm) face.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes a solution controller 138. The solution controller 138 of the twin balloon pad station 24 is for automatic control of volume of the chemical softeners 28 or the chemical lubricants 30.
The twin balloon pad station 24 further includes after-spreaders 140.
The after-spreaders 140 of the twin balloon pad station 24 have a pair of spreaders 142.
The pair of spreaders 142 of the after-spreaders 140 of the twin balloon pad station 24 have powered width change 144 and hole detectors 146.
Each extracting squeeze roll 128 of the twin balloon pad station 24 and each padding roll 136 of the twin balloon pad station 24 is made from a metal 148 or a metal core 150 covered in a polyurethane 152, rubber 154, or other synthetic compounds 156.
The specific configuration of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 can best be seen in
The hydro-sizer compression station 16 includes an edge-drive spreading unit 158, a pair of spreaders 160, a feed roll 166, a retard roll 168, and a shoe assembly 170. The shoe assembly 170 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 is for wet compacting.
The hydro-sizer compression station 16 is for compressing the wet fabric 12 in the lengthwise direction, and in so doing, pre-shrinks the wet fabric 12 prior to drying, through independent speed control of the feed roll 166 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 and the retard roll 168 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16.
The pair of spreaders 160 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 have powered width change 162 and hole detectors 164.
The shoe assembly 170 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 has a lower impact blade/shoe 172.
The lower impact blade/shoe 172 of the shoe assembly 170 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 is made from metal 184 or synthetic polymers 186.
Each of the feed roll 166 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 and the retard roll 168 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 is made from the metal 174 or the metal core 176 covered in polyurethane 178, rubber 180, or other synthetic compounds 182.
The feed roll 166 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16, the retard roll 168 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16, and the lower impact blade/shoe 172 of the shoe assembly 170 of the hydro-sizer compression station 16 can be heated or cooled in order to be operated at a controlled temperature ranging from 50-400° F.
The specific configuration of the folding station 26 can best be seen in
The folding station 26 includes a self-adjusting and descending-rate drop table 188 and a fabric transport conveyor 190. The fabric transport conveyor 190 of the folding station 26 is for delivering the wet fabric 12 to the self-adjusting and descending-rate drop table 188 of the folding station 26, and includes a top 192.
The self-adjusting and descending rate-drop table 188 of the folding station 26 is for controlling distance of travel of the wet fabric 12 from the top 192 of the fabric transport conveyor 190 of the folding station 26 to the self-adjusting and descending-rate drop table 188 of the folding station 26 for preventing compaction percentage of length tension of the wet fabric 12 hanging from the fabric transport conveyor 190 of the folding station 26 from being reduced or pulled out.
The method 194 for pre-shrinking the wet fabric 12 prior to drying can best be seen in
The method 194 for pre-shrinking the wet fabric 12 prior to drying comprises the steps of:
On a typical 100% cotton jersey knit construction with 30/1 S yarn, the courses per inch (CPI) or stitches per inch vary from 44-47 after extraction and chemical application. Compacting the fabric in the “wet” state after the extraction and chemical process between 10-25% increases the CPI to 50-52 CPI.
Drying allows for further shrinkage occurrences, and the final dry compacting process only needs to add 1-2 CPI or 5-10% compaction to the fabric. With a standard finished CPI of 52, an end result of 52-54 CPI is possible. This allows for actual growth in the lengthwise direction instead of shrinkage.
The amount of compaction or compression in the lengthwise direction is adjustable allowing targeting a specific CPI. Previous methods of dry compacting will not afford these same low shrinkage or growth conditions.
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The compression of the fabric in the lengthwise direction in the wet state reduces the amount of lengthwise compression required in the final dry compacting stage of the finished fabric. This reduces the likelihood that top-to-bottom shine or shade change or overall shine and/or shade change or shade loss occurs.
The continual process avoids dye migration that would render the fabric with major quality defects, such as, lengthwise compression of the fabric, as the extraction-chemical application-compacting process is continual.
The compaction of the fabric in the lengthwise direction in the wet state prior to drying imparts lower residual shrinkage after drying. This reduces the compaction requirement of the fabric in the lengthwise direction in the final finishing process, and thus, increases and improves the stability of the finished fabric during cutting and sewing.
The compaction of the fabric in the lengthwise direction in the wet state prior to drying achieves the final finished fabric requirements and eliminates a need for a final compacting or finishing process in certain cases. This fabric could pass directly from the drying process to the cutting and sewing process.
The compaction of the fabric in the lengthwise direction in the wet state reduces the number of yards in the lot in process, and thus, increases the productive efficiency of the dryer as there are less yards in process.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and apparatus for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
The instant non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part application of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/994,278, filed on Jan. 13, 2016, for APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRE-SHRINKING A WET FABRIC PRIOR TO DRYING, which claims priority from provisional patent application No. 62/283,862, filed on Sep. 11, 2015, for PRE-SHRINKING OF FABRIC IN WET CONDITION, and which are both incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto.
